Rinse mussels under cold running water
Scrub the shells with a brush or rough sponge
Pull off the beards by gripping and tugging them toward the hinge
Discard any mussels with cracked shells
Discard any mussels that are open and do not close when tapped
Soak briefly in cold salted water if needed to help remove grit
Drain and rinse again before cooking
Keep cleaned mussels cold until ready to cook